"Throughout his time making music, Sidi's sound has both captured and challenged his roots. His music moves from the translucent swaying takamba to the trance inducing Holley, while the lyrics often address many non-traditional issues. Sidi has a critical mind and his songs have a purpose. At its heart, Sahel Folk, Thrill Jockey's debut release with Sidi Touré, is an album of friends reuniting around a glass of tea. It's Sidi Touré's second album, but the first time most of his collaborators have been documented. Sidi Touré has been performing music in his home of Mali since the 1970s when he formed the Songhaï Stars regional orchestra. He has won the award for best singer two times at the Mali National Bienale. Sidi is a peer to Toumani Diabaté, Bassekou Kouyate, and he shares a kinship with the late Ali Farka Touré."